Step-ladder



. (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

w. v. STEPHENSON.-

STEP LADDER.

No; 548,670. Patented Oct. 29,1895.

v (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. V. STEPHENSON.

STEP LADDER.

No! 548,670. Patented Oct. 29, 1895.

m i'nesa es. 1

I u i e I 1 @Q m Oi? ANDREW 813mm.PHOTG-LITNU WASMNGTONJ GL UNITEDSTATES PATENT Prion.

W'ALTER V. STEPHENSON, OF FORT DODGE, IOWA.

STEP-LADDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,670, dated October29, 1895.

Application filed May 27, 1 895. Serial No. 550,838. (No model.)

Io all whom it in er/y conceive:

Be it known that I, WALTER V. STEPHEN- soN, a citizen of the UnitedStates of America, residing at Fort Dodge, in the county of VVebstar andState of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Adjustable Step-Ladder, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, strong, and durablestep-ladder in which the ladder proper and also the support therefor maybe adjusted as to length independently of each other or in unison,thereby adapting the device for use in position where the ladder and thesupport rest'npon bases in different horizontal planes-such, forinstance, as upon a stairwayand further to provide means whereby thesupport may be detached and the ladder used independently thereof.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction,arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, ashereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the complete ladder inper-- spective. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing theladder and support of different lengths and supported upon a stairway.Fig.3 is a side elevation of the ladder in a folded position. Fig. t isa perspective view of one of the brackets for holding the parts of thesupport together. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view showing the slidingconnection between the two parts of the ladder proper.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the underportion of the ladderproper is seen to comprise the two fiat uprights A, flared outwardly attheir lower ends to produce a broad base and having a series of angularrounds A fitted and secured in its front edge at suitable distancesapart. At the upper end portion of each side piece is a springactuatedbolt A fixed at one end and projected through a slot in the side piece.

The upper ladder-section is composed of two parallel side pieces B,separated a sufficient distance to engage the inner faces of theuprights A, and these side pieces B are slotted longitudinally at B toreceive the bolts A B indicate fiatsteps connecting the two side piecesB and located the same distance apart as the r0uuds'A On the lower endsof these side pieces B are two flat bars B to project forwardly and thendownwardly to overlap one of the rounds A The said bars and rounds andsteps are so arranged that when the bars are resting upon one round thesteps and rounds above will coincide and the upper section be firmlyheld against movement relative to the lower section in any directionexcept upwardly. It is obvious, however, that the upper section mayfirst be raised until the bars B clear the rounds, then the lower end ofthe upper section inclined ontwardly and the upper section movedlongitudinally relative to the lower onein any direction.

A broad flat top O is fixed on the upper ends of the uprights B andsecured thereon by the bracket 0 The support for the ladder is also madeof two parts, each preferably constructed of three distinct pieces. Theouter pieces D of the lower section are forked at the base, the bracketsD placed between the outer and inner pieces at the fork to strengthenthe bent portion,and a wooden round D passed through the three partsnear their lower ends. The central piece D is somewhat wider than theothers and its edge projects rearwardly, a number of notches D beingformed in this edge.

The upper section F is of substantially the same general construction,being forked at its top, provided with the metal strips F on its upperends adapted to admit a rod F that is extended through the brackets Oand through said strips, thus pivotally connecting the ladder andsupportand providing means whereby the support may be readily detached.

The two parts of the support are slldingly connected by means of the twocleats H, clearly shown in Fig. 4, which are secured to the uppersection and overlap the lower sec tion.

J indicates a bail pivoted in the lower end portion of the upper sectionand overlapping the upper section to enter the notches D and thusprevent the upper sections from moving relative to the lower one exceptupwardly. The bail, however, may readily be thrown out of engagementwith the notches and the parts freely moved relative to each other.

To hold thelower ends of the latter and support at the proper distancerelative to each other, I have provided a forked bar K, with its endsslotted at K to admit the bolts K having elongated heads and fixed tothe inner surfaces of its uprights A, so that the said forked bar maynot be detached from the uprights unless the fork is placed in aposition parallel with the uprights.

N indicates a bar pivoted near the end to the bar K and having a lug Non its end to enter a notch N in the top of the bar K, thus preventingthe bars from bending downwardly at their central portions. The otherend of the bar N-is connected with the base of the support by means of alink N and in this end of the bar N is pivoted a hook S, so shaped as toengage one of the rounds of the ladder when folded. 1

In practical useit is obvious that either the ladder proper or thesupport may be adjusted relative to each other so as to enable thedevice to rest upon a stairway with the steps of the ladder in eitherdirection. They may also be lengthened or shortened at the same time,and, if desired, the support may he removed and the ladder proper beused independently.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein, anddesire to secure py Letters Patent of the United States thereor, 1s

1. In a step ladder, the combination of a ladder section having flatside pieces and steps at the front edge thereof, fiat springs secured attheir lower ends to the side pieces and having extensions on their endspassed through the side pieces, a second ladder section having slottedsides designed to pass between the sides of the lower section andreceive the said extension in the said slots, and bars se cured to thelower ends of the upper section to overlap one step of the lowersection, substantially as and for the purposes stated.

2. The combination in a step ladder, of a suitable ladder, two boltshaving elongated heads fixed. to the inner lower surfaces of its sidepieces, a support pivotally and detachably connected with the upper endof the ladder, a bar or brace pivotally attached at one end to the lowerend of said support, and having slots on its other ends designed toadmit the heads of said bolts and a joint in the cen tral portion ofsaid bar or brace designed to fold upwardly, substantially as and forthe purposes stated.

WALTER V. STEPHENSON.

Witnesses:

H. O. BALDWIN, W. J. CAMPBELL.

